# US 9,039,078 B2 · Zero-wall clearance linkage mechanism for a lifting recliner

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- Number: US 9,039,078 B2
- Document ID: US9039078B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/653,018
- Filed: 2012-10-16
- Published: 2013-02-14
- Granted: 2015-05-26
- Earliest claimed: 2010-02-11
- Assignees: L&P Property Management Company
- Applicants: L & P Property Management Company
- Inventors: Gregory M Lawson; Jason Allan Bryant
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9039078B2

## CPC

- A47C 1/035: in combination with movably-coupled seat and back-rest
- A47C 1/029: by changing the length or the inclination of the legs
- A61G 5/14: Standing-up or sitting-down aids
- Y10S 297/10: Occupant-arising assist
- Y10T 74/20: Control lever and linkage systems
- A47C: CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS
- A61G: TRANSPORT, PERSONAL CONVEYANCES OR ACCOMMODATION SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PATIENTS OR DISABLED PERSONS (appliances for aiding patients or disabled persons to walk A61H3/00); OPERATING TABLES OR CHAIRS; CHAIRS FOR DENTISTRY; FUNERAL DEVICES (embalming corpses A01N1/00)
- Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

A seating unit that includes a linkage mechanism adapted to move the seating unit between seat-lift, closed, extended, reclined, and seat-lift positions is provided. The linkage mechanism includes a seat-mounting plate mounted to a footrest assembly, a base plate fixedly mounted to a lift assembly, a back-mounting link rotatably coupled to the seat-mounting plate, a seat-adjustment assembly with a bellcrank, and a linear actuator for automating adjustment of the linkage mechanism. In operation, a stroke in a first phase of the linear actuator generates a force on the bellcrank that translates the seat-mounting plate rearward in a consistent angle of inclination and rotates the back-mounting link from a reclined to an upright orientation. A stroke in a second phase acts to collapse the footrest assembly. A stroke in a third phase causes the lift assembly to raise and tilt the seating unit, thereby accommodating egress and ingress of an occupant.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A pair of generally mirror-image linkage mechanisms adapted to move a recliner between a reclined, an extended, and a closed position, the recliner having a seat and a backrest that is angularly adjustable with respect to the seat, each of the linkage mechanisms comprising:
a sequence plate having a guide slot, wherein the guide slot includes a first region, a second region positioned orthogonally to the first region, and an intermediate region that interconnects the first region and the second region; and
a sequence element that, at least partially, extends into the guide slot, wherein the sequence element resides within the first region when the seating unit is adjusted to the reclined position, wherein the sequence element resides within the intermediate region when the seating unit is adjusted to the extended position, and wherein the sequence element resides within the second region when the seating unit is adjusted to the closed position.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The linkage mechanism of claim 1, wherein the guide slot is generally L-shaped, wherein the first region is substantially vertical, and wherein the second region is substantially horizontal.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The linkage mechanism of claim 1, further comprising a seat-mounting plate having a mid portion and a rearward portion, wherein the seat is fixedly mounted to the seat-mounting plate.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The linkage mechanism of claim 3, further comprising a back-mounting link rotatably coupled to the rearward portion of the seat-mounting plate, the backrest being attached to the back-mounting link.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The linkage mechanism of claim 4, further comprising a rear bellcrank rotatably coupled to the mid portion of the seat-mounting plate, wherein the sequence plate is pivotably coupled to the rear bellcrank.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The linkage mechanism of claim 5, wherein the sequence element is fixedly attached to the mid portion of the seat-mounting plate on an opposed side to the rear bellcrank.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The linkage mechanism of claim 6, wherein, when the sequence element resides in the first region of the guide slot, the interaction of the sequence element and the sequence plate resists adjustment of the seating unit to the closed position.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The linkage mechanism of claim 7, wherein, when the sequence element resides in the second region of the guide slot, the interaction of the sequence element and the sequence plate resists adjustment of the seating unit to the reclined position.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The linkage mechanism of claim 8, wherein, when the sequence element resides in the intermediate region of the guide slot, the seating unit is adjustable to either the reclined position or to the closed position.

### Claim 10

A seating unit, comprising:
a pair of base plates in substantially parallel-spaced relation;
a pair of seat-mounting plates in substantially parallel-spaced relation, wherein each of the seat-mounting plates is disposed in an inclined orientation in relation to each of the base plates, respectively; and
a pair of generally mirror-image linkage mechanisms each moveably interconnecting the seat-mounting plates to the base plates, respectively, and adapted to move the seating unit between a closed position, an extended position, and a reclined position, wherein each of the linkage mechanisms comprise:
(a) a back-mounting link rotatably coupled to a respective seat-mounting plate and configured to support a backrest of the seating unit;
(b) a rear bellcrank rotatably coupled to a respective seat-mounting plate;
(c) a sequence plate rotatably coupled to the rear bellcrank, wherein the sequence plate includes a guide slot;
(d) a rear pivot link pivotably coupled to the back-mounting link and to the rear bellcrank; and
(e) a sequence element that extends from a respective seat-mounting plate, wherein the sequence element, at least partially, extends into the guide slot of the sequence plate.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The seating unit of claim 10, further comprising a rear control link that is pivotably coupled at one end to the rear bellcrank and at another end to a respective base plate.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The seating unit of claim 10, wherein interaction between the sequence element and the sequence plate resists direct adjustment between the closed position and the reclined position.

### Claim 13

A linkage mechanism configured to adjust a reclining seating unit between a reclined, an extended, and a closed position, the linkage mechanism comprising:
a base plate;
a seat-mounting plate for supporting a seat of the seating unit in an inclined orientation in relation to the base plate;
a rear bellcrank rotatably coupled to the seat-mounting plate;
a sequence plate rotatably coupled to the rear bellcrank, wherein the sequence plate includes a guide slot;
a front sequence link having a front end and a back end, wherein the back end of the front sequence link is pivotably coupled to the sequence plate;
a footrest assembly for adjusting one or more foot-support ottomans between the closed and extended positions, wherein the footrest assembly is rotatably coupled to the seat-mounting plate;
a footrest drive link having a front end and a back end, wherein the front end of the footrest drive link is pivotably coupled to the footrest assembly and the back end of the footrest drive link is pivotably coupled to the front end of the front sequence link; and
a sequence element that extends from the seat-mounting plate, wherein the sequence element, at least partially, extends into the guide slot of the sequence plate.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The linkage mechanism of claim 13, wherein the seat-mounting plate includes a forward portion, a mid portion, and a rearward portion, wherein the footrest assembly is rotatably coupled to the forward portion of the seat-mounting link, and wherein the rear bellcrank rotatably coupled to the mid portion of the seat-mounting plate.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The linkage mechanism of claim 14, further comprising a back-mounting link rotatably coupled to rear portion of the seat-mounting plate, wherein the back-mounting link is configured to support a backrest of the seating unit.

### Claim 16 (depends on 13)

The linkage mechanism of claim 13, wherein the sequence element extends through the guide slot of the sequence plate and includes a cap that retains the sequence plate to the sequence element.

### Claim 17 (depends on 13)

The linkage mechanism of claim 13, wherein the guide slot includes a first region, a second region, and an intermediate region that interconnects the first region and the second region, wherein the sequence element resides within the first region when the seating unit is adjusted to the reclined position, wherein the sequence element resides within the intermediate region when the seating unit is adjusted to the extended position, and wherein the sequence element resides within the second region when the seating unit is adjusted to the closed position.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The linkage mechanism of claim 17, wherein, when the sequence element resides in the first region of the guide slot, the interaction of the sequence element and the sequence plate resists adjustment of the seating unit to the closed position.

### Claim 19 (depends on 17)

The linkage mechanism of claim 17, wherein, when the sequence element resides in the second region of the guide slot, the interaction of the sequence element and the sequence plate resists adjustment of the seating unit to the reclined position.

### Claim 20 (depends on 17)

The linkage mechanism of claim 17, wherein, when the sequence element resides in the intermediate region of the guide slot, the seating unit is adjustable to either the reclined position or to the closed position.